Letter to Editor (TOI):08.03.06:Security at KSRTC terminal at Subhashnagar

Dear Sir,

In the wake of the dastardly terrorist attacks on soft targets such as temples and railway stations we should exercise more vigilance at public places. I was shocked by how lax the security is at the KSRTC Bus Terminus at Subhashnagar. There are no policemen in sight at all and there are a few private security guards here and there. Given the huge volume of passenger traffic not every passenger can be frisked nor can every piece of luggage be scanned. However, there have to be constant multilingual announcements on the PA system and the CC TV asking passengers to be alert for unaccompanied baggage or parcels and to immediately report the same to security personnel. There should be armed policemen who should be allowed to make random checks of baggage and to ask questions if they find baggage lying around suspiciously. Also in the buses the conductor should ask each passenger to identify his baggage and only then move from the terminal. Basically we need to wake up to this threat and change our perspective. Anything can happen anywhere anytime. And the softer the target the better it is for the terrorist to make his ghastly statement. This can be foiled only by being alert and prepared.